Original story by Melinda Howells, ABC News
Resource company Sibelco says it did not get everything it wanted in negotiations with the Queensland Government over its sand mining leases on North Stradbroke Island.
A parliamentary committee is examining new laws that would extend sand mining on the Island off Brisbane until 2035.
Sibelco CEO Campbell Jones was questioned about meetings with Premier Campbell Newman to negotiate the proposed legislation.
The sand mine on North Stradbroke Island. Photo: Giulio Saggin, ABC News.
“No we didn’t get everything that we wanted,” he said.
“There is not a restoration of all of our tenure.”
Sibelco says it injects $130 million a year into the region and the new laws balance economic and environmental interests.
It says the previous government’s plan to close the largest mine by 2019 would have hurt the local economy.
But environmental groups say an extension of sand mining on North Stradbroke will harm the island’s ecosystem.
Evan Hamman from the Environmental Defenders Office says the legislation states that the Government must extend mining leases with no avenues for appeal in the courts.
“There shouldn’t be special legislation in this regard, it’s unprecedented,” he said.
Paul Donatiu from the National Parks Association of Queensland says lakes and wetlands are under threat.
“It puts at risk these incredible, beautiful and rare places,” he said.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson’s electorate takes in North Stradbroke.
He questioned the motives of some people giving evidence, asking about their links to the island.
“Are you just anti mining? How many of your members actually live on the island, are residents?” he said.
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